The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1887-07-14
TEACH YOUR SON A TRADE.

The main trouble of society at
present lies not, as people imagine,
with the working men, but with those
that do not want to work, whether
among the capitalists or the laboring
class. There are altogether too many
people in both the business office and
the workshop who want to reap with
out having sown, who are determined
to acquire money at all hazards, by
legitimate means if they find them, if
not, then by illegitimate ones. Our
age of steam and electricity has rob-
bed us OF one precious virtue, without
which man will never become con-
tented and happy, and that is patience.
This feverish restlessness of our age
urges everybody along to risk all he
owns. even the honor which is be-
yond the possibility of repair, for the
sake of making money over night.
And this foul air infects the young,
the son of the artisan and farmer as
well as that Of the wealthy merchant.
Speculation, instead OF thrifty labor,
is considered the only road to for
tune; hence the daily increase of de-
falcation, of breach of trust, and all
sorts of false dealings.
There is only one golden road to
happiness and prosperity-it is pa
tent persevering labor Mother earth
yields her rich produce only to those
who have deserved it by enrolling
sweat OF untiring labor. She shows
neither favors nor predictions to
any. Labor alone, whether agricul-
tural or manual, offers true satisfac-
ton. Its reward lasts. Fortunes
that are quickly gained are too often
also quickly lost. A good, diligent
workman is never at loss about his
future. lie is safe anywhere and at
all times. 1t is wrong and impru-
dent OF a father to put all his boys, |
If he has many, into business, without |
having them first taught some handi-
craft or profession. One of them is
almost sure to become shipwrecked
in the great struggle for existence,
and if all succeed it is by adventure
rather than by wise foresight. We
must, even in the estimate of the |
wealthy, have industrial labor raised |
in Talue ard capita lcssone3.
There are more young American |
men in the penitentiary in this coun- |
try learning trades than there are |
outside of them. The principal cause |
of this is that we are educating young |
men for gentlemen-trying to make |
lawyers, preachers, doctors and clerks
out of material that nature intended |
for blacksmiths, carpenters, sailors
and other honest "hewers of wood
and drawers of water" 1t is a mis-
take and a big one too, to make the
boys (and girls too believe that la
Dor is disgraceful, and to do nothing
tor living is more becoming the So
ciety in which they expect to move
and have respect. Hang such socie-
ty. 1t is rotten to the core to-day,
and there are many mems sons and
daughters who are now being educa-
ted to play the part of eleading lady"
and walking gentlemen" in the
great drama Of life, who will light
out for poor house or penitentia-
ry before they have played their
parts and the curtain drops.
Young man get thee to a tannery, |
to a tinsaop, to chicken rancho.
You can soon become your own boss,
independent and commander of your
own little kingdom, if you are pru-
dent and economical, but never wear
out your young years, behind either
counter or desk and spend your mon
ey to have your hair parted in the
middle in the hope of catching the
heiriss-- who prefers her fathers
coachman. Boys you can't always
become clerks, and pot house politi-
clans; everybody can sell dry goods
and clothing, or act as clerk in the
mint, custom house or postoffice, but
everybody can't earn a living like
good mechanic if he is thrown out Of
office - Henderson Gold Leaf.